What is the static keyword in Java?

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The static keyword binds a member to the class itself rather than to an instance — so it lives in one place and is shared across all objects. Static variable — one shared copy per class; commonly used for constants ( public static final ). Static method — called on the class without an instance; cannot use this or instance fields. Static block — runs once when the class is loaded; used to initialize static fields. Static nested class — a nested class that does not capture an enclosing instance. Use cases — constants, utility classes ( Math , Collections ), factory methods, singletons. Know all five uses: variables, methods, blocks, inner classes, and imports. The key rule: static methods cannot access instance members. Mention that static methods are not polymorphic (hidden, not overridden). The Singleton example connects to design patterns.